Shloka 36

Matsya Purana — The Attendant Hosts of the Sun and Moon: Monthly Gaṇas

Devanagari script

गच्छत्यसावनुदिनं परिवृत्य रश्मीन् देवान्पितॄंश्च मनुजांश्च सुतर्पयन्वै शुक्ले च कृष्णे तदहःक्रमेण कालक्षये चैव सुराः पिबन्ति //

Transliteration

gacchatyasāvanudinaṃ parivṛtya raśmīn devānpitṝṃśca manujāṃśca sutarpayanvai śukle ca kṛṣṇe tadahaḥkrameṇa kālakṣaye caiva surāḥ pibanti //

Translation

He (the Sun) moves onward day after day, turning back and spreading his rays, truly satisfying the gods, the ancestors (Pitṛs), and humankind. In the bright fortnight and in the dark fortnight, in that very sequence of days, and at the waning of time as well, the gods drink their share.

Word by Word

• गच्छति (gacchati): goes, proceeds

• असौ (asau): he (the Sun)

• अनुदिनम् (anudinam): day by day

• परिवृत्य (parivṛtya): turning around/returning, revolving

• रश्मीन् (raśmīn): rays

• देवान् (devān): the gods

• पितॄन् (pitṝn): the ancestors (Pitṛs)

• च (ca): and

• मनुजान् (manujān): humans

• च (ca): and

• सुतर्पयन् (sutarpayan): fully satisfying, nourishing

• वै (vai): indeed

• शुक्ले (śukle): in the bright fortnight (Śukla pakṣa)

• च (ca): and

• कृष्णे (kṛṣṇe): in the dark fortnight (Kṛṣṇa pakṣa)

• तद् (tad): that

• अहः-क्रमेण (ahaḥ-krameṇa): by the order/sequence of days

• काल-क्षये (kāla-kṣaye): at the decline/consummation of time

• च एव (caiva): and also

• सुराः (surāḥ): the gods

• पिबन्ति (pibanti): drink, partake (of offerings/essence).

Speaker

• Likely Sūta (narrator) conveying the Matsya Purana’s cosmological teaching; framed within the broader Matsya–Manu dialogue tradition

Entities Mentioned

• Surya (the Sun)
• Devas
• Pitrs (ancestors)
• Manujas (humans)
• Kala (Time)

Tags

• Cosmology
• Surya
• Kala
• Paksha
• Ritual offerings

FAQs

What does this verse reveal about the creation or dissolution (Pralaya)?

It points to a cyclical vision of time governed by the Sun, including “kāla-kṣaya” (the waning/consummation of time), implying that even cosmic decline follows an ordered rhythm rather than chaos.

How does this verse relate to the duties of a King or Householder?

By emphasizing pakṣa (fortnight) and day-sequence, it supports dharmic time-discipline—performing daily rites and timely offerings to Devas and Pitṛs (e.g., homa, śrāddha) so society remains ‘sustained’ in the proper order.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, it stresses that offerings and observances depend on correct calendrical timing (bright/dark fortnight and day order). This timing principle underlies temple ritual schedules and consecration/observance calendars used alongside Matsya Purana–style dharma and vidhi.